It was 1990, and they had the No. 5 overall draft pick. Their general manager, targeting an impact defender, held two linebackers in high regard, Keith McCants from Alabama and Junior Seau from Southern California. A comparative medical evaluation could differentiate them.

"Bobby Beathard said to us, 'Which one has the better longevity?' " said Paul Murphy, a former head team physician.

The verdict was Seau. Definitely Seau.

In the months before the NFL Draft, teams partake in a complex scouting process that weighs a number of variables, some more visible to the public than others. Behind closed doors, each team's medical staff evaluates college prospects, forming opinions that can influence, sometimes heavily, a player's overall assessment.

Efforts culminate on draft day.

Hollywood has portrayed an NFL war room to be loud, crowded and disorganized, scouts and coaches talking over each other before general manager Kevin Costner slams his hand on a table and shouts, "Will everyone please shut up?"

At Chargers Park, it is calm and quiet. A small group is handpicked to be present.

One person is James Collins.

There for emergencies, the head athletic trainer addresses any medical-related questions that may materialize over the course of seven rounds and about 20 undrafted rookie signings. The preparation he and his staff do, however, largely is completed weeks earlier, prior to player rankings being finalized.

His part in the draft process arguably is as important this year as ever. Collins is a veteran, arriving as an intern in 1986 and becoming assistant athletic trainer in 1987. After pursuing opportunities elsewhere, he's been in San Diego since 1999.

Christopher Wahl, head team physician, was hired just last year. February was his first NFL Scouting Combine. This is his first NFL Draft.

Collins' experience is considered invaluable.

The team, citing a long-standing policy, declined to make current medical staff available for comment.

"All the work he does throughout the year is extremely important," General Manager Tom Telesco said. "Football is a physical game, and guys get hurt at our level just like they get hurt in college, and as we make decisions on players, we have to project how long do we think they’ll be able to play.

"So if a guy has an injury that may shorten his career, that’s something we have to know. That’s not easy work for those guys, for the doctors and the trainers to try and determine what the injuries are, and what are livable and what aren’t and what can be managed. But that’s all part of the process. It’s probably a bigger part of the process than people really think."

The combine is a major event on the NFL medical calendar.

It's four days, Thursday through Sunday, of twisting and pulling and testing 300-plus prospects. The February examinations often are the first and last look a medical staff has on a player. A team, however, can host up to 30 prospects on an official pre-draft visit, during which an additional examination can be performed.